Merrick Seafood
Merrick Seafood

This week, Tilman Fertitta meets with Carrie and Patrick of Merrick Seafood.

Merrick Seafood offers a seafood dining experience. Their Fish Tale Grill provides “anything from salads, baskets, homemade soups, to delectable fresh seafood entrees,” according to their website. Their gourmet markets offer fresh fish daily, including sushi-grade tuna, salmon, mahi-mahi and red snapper. Their platter offerings feature lobster and shrimp, stone crab, lobster and snow crab, lobster and crabmeat and more.

Fertitta immediately points out the issues with them not expanding to other markets. They are mostly on the southwest coast, but Fertitta wants them to expand to the southeast where most of his restaurants are. The executive chefs put their product to the test, testing the quality of the cuts, which don’t initially turn out as expected but impresses with a second go around. He wants to help and challenges them to deliver fresh fish to three restaurants in the Miami area by 11 a.m. the next day.

Rushing to make the time for all three restaurants, they are discouraged to find that some of the lobsters were dead at the first location, meaning that not all of them were accepted. But they do like the price. The second location doesn’t go much better, while the third succeeds, albeit a few challenges. The chefs seem impressed overall by the quality and pricing but some are discouraged by the packaging. He gives them another chance to test the products at several restaurants.

Ultimately, the 21-day test doesn’t go over well. They had issues with the temperature and packaging, which doesn’t sit well with Fertitta. In the boardroom, Fertitta questions whether they truly want to make a deal given that they are self-proclaimed perfectionists, yet continue to make mistakes. Carrie passionately explains how much they do want a deal and that the problems will no longer exist in the future. She rates the business a 95 and, given the quality and “fighting spirit” work ethic, Fertitta asks for their bid.

They ask that their products be used in five restaurants at $1,000 per week, totaling $260,000 a year. He doesn’t think that’s enough, believing that they’re truly not pushing themselves enough. He counters 10 stores at $1,500 a week per store, totaling $780,000 a year, which they accept.

Social Media Reacts to Merrick Seafood’s Appearance on “Billion Dollar Buyer”

According to CNBC, the reality television show “introduces promising companies across the country to one of America’s most successful businessmen: billionaire hospitality mogul Tilman Fertitta, Chairman, CEO, and sole shareholder of Landry’s, Inc.” Featured entrepreneurs present their small business to Fertitta in the hopes that he will place a large purchase order. But before they make their pitch, they must prove to the hospitality mogul that their product is worth it through challenges and customer feedback.

What are your thoughts on Merrick Seafood? Did you like Fertitta’s offer? Sound off in the comments section below!

Read more: Billion Dollar Buyer: Little Waisted Accepts $25,000 Offer from Tilman Fertitta